Where would the NFL be without the leagues greatest rivalry? Over the years I’ve watched the Giants and Eagles battle like no other contest in sports. These two juggernauts have been clashing since 1933.
Seriously, try to name a better head to head confrontation in the sport. The rich history, the epic battles, and game changing dramatic plays. Sure, the Jets and Miami can be considered a rivalry, but remember the Jets and Dolphins didn’t enter into the NFL until the early to mid '60s.
The Browns vs. Steelers and a bit of Baltimore sprinkled in can give you a good game, but nothing like when the New York Giants play the Philadelphia Eagles. There’s only two hours of asphalt between these two teams, but years of electrifying moments.
Fifteen Of the Top Plays to Remember:
No. 1 - Old School—Bednarik knocks out Frank Gifford putting him out of football for the reason of the year and the entire 1961 season.
No. 2 - "2nd-and-13"—With less than one minute to play, the Giants only need to run out the clock to preserve the win by taking a knee. The win would almost certainly knock the Eagles from the playoff picture when QB Joe Pisarcik misses the Larry Csonka handing. The ball hits the stadium turf and bounces straight up into the hands of cornerback Herman Edwards who runs for a touchdown…and the "Miracle at the Meadowlands" is born!
No. 3 - No. 56 Is born—The best linebacker and pass rusher off all-time, Lawrence Taylor crushes Ron Jaworski for his first sack of his NFl career. LT sacked two Eagles quarterbacks, Ron Jaworski and Randall Cunningham 12.5 each, sharing the distinction of being Taylor’s most frequent sack victims.
No. 4 - Buddy’s Bad Advice—October 1986, LT has a two sack day. The second sack was amazing as LT clearly jumps four feet in the air over RB Keith Byers crushing Jaworski. Buddy would never leave only a running back to block Taylor again.
No. 5 - The Hit—RB Keith Byers gets retribution with the “decleater” on LB No. 52 Pepper Johnson.
No. 6 - Must Be the Circus—LB No. 58 Carl Banks delivered a hit on QB Randall Cunningham which cuts his legs out from under him, sending him flying backward. Randall manages to keep his balance, recovers to his feet, and throws a touchdown.
No. 7 - The QB Can Kick?—Randall Cunningham’s 91-yard punt!
No. 8 - Halloween—1999 overtime, game tied at 17. Michael Strahan bats a pass from Doug Peterson into the air, before intercepting it and taking it in for the game ending touchdown.
No. 9 - Two to the House—The Giants 2000 Super Bowl run was something special as the Giants had two amazing plays vs. the hated Eagles in the divisional playoff game. Ron Dixon took the opening kickoff to the house for a TD and corner back Jason Sehorn made a sensational acrobatic diving interception tipping the ball back to himself and got up to run in for a touchdown.
No. 10. NFC Championship—Strahan pushes past Jon Runyon and the Eagles with two sacks and a fumble recovery of Donovan McNabb in Jan. 2001 earning their way to the Vikings in 2001.
No.11 - The Punt Return—In October 2003 the game is winding down. With 1:36 to play, the Giants decide to punt. RB Brian Westbrook goes to house with a 84-yard punt return to win the game. Don’t kick to B West!
No. 12 - Jump Ball—Jeremy Shockey tied the game at 7-7 by out wrestling Eagles safety Brian Dawkins on a jump ball in the end zone in October of 2002. Giants win 10-7 and earn a playoff birth.
No. 13 - The Comeback—In 2006 the Gmen are losing 24-7, when Eli Manning marched his team back from the brink with 17 straight points. Eli flings a deep TD pass to a single-covered Plaxico Burress, who outmaneuvered the Eagles stud corner back, No. 24 Sheldon Brown for a 30-26 victory.
No. 14 - Osi…Can You See?—The boys in blue whipped No. 5 on a beautiful October day in 2007...tying an NFL record 12 sacks including a franchise-record six by Osi Umenyiora.
No. 15 - Sack King—Michael Strahan does it again by sacking McNabb in Sept 2007 passing the great Lawrence Taylor.
We're going to send you the most entertaining New York Giants articles, videos, and podcasts from around the web.
20 Comments
Loading more comments...
This comment and all replies have been deleted This comment has been deleted Undo delete